Some of my favorite poses involve bending the body forward at the hips - called forward bends or folds. This can be done standing, seated (ground or chair), and even reclined. Personally I find them relaxing, and helpful to stretch my back.
Here’s more info according to this article by Yoga Basics:
“What are forward bending yoga poses?
Forward folds are a type of yoga posture that brings the front of the upper torso closer to the lower body. These postures can be performed in standing, supine or sitting positions. Forward bending poses are considered calming, soothing and introspective. Forward folds are very helpful in stretching out tight muscles and releasing tension in the entire backside of the body.”
Some benefits of forward bending may include:
Promoting spine length and flexibility
Reducing back tension (when done mindfully)
Mental stress relief through a sense of “surrender” to gravity
DEEP forward bending (attempting to bring chest to thighs, as in the photo above) isn’t for everyone: if you have low back issues, it’s best to start gently and only go as far as you can keep the spine long vs. letting it round. Standing forward bends are also contraindicated for certain conditions (e.g. glaucoma, vertigo, untreated high blood pressure), when they take the head below the heart.
I find that bending the knees can help with this in standing and seated positions, as well as taking the legs wider apart. Even drawing bent knees in toward the chest while lying down can produce similar results.
I hope you can make some time to move, breathe, and practice yoga with me this week.
Be Well,
Eva